Hard Hat Award (Game #11, vs. Bengals)

November 25, 2008 by Still Mill

Hard Hat Award (Game #11, vs. Bengals)

Stillers DE Aaron Smith is the winner of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.

Smitter was an absolute beast in the win over the Bungals, almost single-handedly dominating the Bengals from his DE spot in the 3-4 defense, which is incredibly rare in the NFL.He continually blew up running plays while applying pressure on passing plays as well.He also had 3 batted passes.On a 2-play sequence in the 2Q, Smith batted a pass, then blew up a screen pass with outstanding reading and hustling.I�ve watched Smitty for years now, and he is playing at a very, very high standard of play.

Other player receiving consideration from The Committee were LB James Farrior, who had 2 short-yardage stops; PK Jeff Reed, who nailed 2 difficult FGs amidst a snow squall in bitter cold weather; and FB Carey Davis, who was finally allowed to play FB and responded with some key, rugged blocks and a key plunge.It bears repeating that there is almost always -- if not always -- a strong correlation between the number of players in consideration for the Hard Hat, and if the team won or lost.Simply put, Hard Hat kind of football leads to victory; pansy football (a term used here long before Troy Pola popularized it) leads to defeat.